Return to school ‘may not be possible for some time’

The National Education Union’s (NEU) Education Recovery Plan has said new coronavirus variants would limit how many children could attend school.

The newly-published document said class sizes should be capped at 15 pupils - and children attend on a “rota” basis.

The executive has previously agreed that most pupils will not return to school until March 8 at the earliest.

The NEU plan for Northern Ireland said social distancing and limits on social mixing were required for “Covid security” in schools and colleges.

“When, and if, more students return, arrangements for 2m distancing and bubbles, and constraints on mixing and crossing bubbles must be radically tightened,” the NEU said.

“If social distancing in education buildings is to become a reality, then fewer students can be on site.”

They said a limit on numbers of children physically in school was needed due to “increased transmissibility of the new Covid variants”.

The NEU said that, as a result, children should come into school on a “rota” basis.

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